Knockdown or foldable buildinq



May 17, 1927.

1'. c. cou" KNOCKDOWN OR FOLDABLE BUILDING Filed Oct- 2 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 720mm;

; M MMDI.

ATTORNEYS.

1,62 ,150 May 17,1927. Q COLT 9 KNOCKDOWN 0R FOLDABLE BUILDING Filed Oct. 2. 1924 s sheets-sheet 2 May 17 1927.

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KNOCKDOWN OR FOLDABLE BUILDING Filed Oct. 2. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR: 720 mm? (5/7? BY A TTORNEYS.

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T. c. COLT KNOCKDOWN 0R FOLDABLE BUILDING Filed Oct. 2. 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 5 mmvrox; 2%??? 0254/- WMM ATTORNEYS.

1927. May T. c.co|.1'

KNOCKDOWN 0R FOLDABLE BUILDING 6 Sheets-511a 5 Filed Oct. 2. 1924 INVENTOR: flZmaCTZZ/Zj g. BY v ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 17, 1927.

THOMAS C. COLT, F ORANGE, NEVL JERFSEY.

Kwoonnovvuon nutrients BUILDING.

Application filed flctober 2, 192 1. Serial No. M1197.

This invention has reference, generally, to improvements in buildings; and the present invention relates more particularly, to building-structures ol the il'oldable or collapsible type usually in the form of the bungalow style, the various members of the building, when not in use. being :toldable in a manner, so as to make up a package of. minimum. size. and thereby to provide a. package which may be readily carted about, and which is especially useful to campers, automobilists. and the like.

The present invention, therefore, has for its principal object. to provide a novel and simply constructed assemblage of the va-ious members ot a building-structure, connected in such a manner, so thatthe various building-members are readily tt'oldable to produce a small package, for easy and safe transportation. and .the members being eas ily and quickly brought into their operative co-operation. to provide a comfortable building of the bungalow style, which is admirably adapted for camping and similar purposes.

Other objects oil? the present invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the followingdetailed description of the present invention.

With the various objects of the present invention in view, thesaid invention consists. primarily, in the novel toldable or collapsi ble building hereinafter set forth; and, the :Li said invention consists furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said parts, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification. and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claims, which are appended to and which form an essential part of the said specification.

The invention is fully illustrated in the accmnpanying drawings. in which Figure l is a view of the folded or collapsed members of a lnulding-structure em bodying the principles of the present invention. showing the package thus produced at tached as a trailer to the rear of an automobile. I

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the it'oldable or collapsible building. the members of which are shown set up to provide a building ready for occupancy; Figure 8is a similar view of thebuilding with its removable root-covering being placed in position upon the removable and itoldable rafters of the structure; and Figures land 5 are perspective views of the 'l'oldably connected mem bers of the building illustrating the manner oil bringing" the said members into their re spective positions to produce the building Figure (3 is a perspective view showing the various members of the building-structure in their folded relation, when not in use; Figure 7 is a similar viewot the structure, some of the members of which are represented in their un't'olded or opened-out relationto the remaining; folded members otthe structure; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of the lower frame-work or base of the building-structure.

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are sectional views of certain of the foldable members of the structure; and Figure 12 is a perspective view of either the front or rear porcl'nstructure, forming parts of the said lower -trame-work or base. y

Similar characters of reference are employed in all ot the said above described views. to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now more particularly to Fig ure 8 of the drawings, in which. is illustrated 'the lower frame-work or base of the building-structure the refer-ence characters 1 and 2 indicate a pair of longitudinally extending supporting burs preferably of metal, of desired length. which have suitably connected with their respective ends, by means of rods and ll or other suitable fastening means LJ-shaped end-members 5 and 6, also prel? crably made of metal, all assembled so as to provide a main frame ot a rectangular configuration. Suit-ably secured to the said supporting bars 1 and 2 are downwardly extending supports as '7. the said supports being preferablyprovided with holes 8, in which may be journalled suitable rods or axles 9, with which are connected wheels or rollers 10. substantially as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. For stability, the said rods 0 axles 9 may also he suitalfly connected by means of stay-rods or bars 1L and one of said rods or axles 9 may also have conuectrnl therewith a suitably formed coupling means 12 for trailingpurposes, as will be evident from an inspection of said Figure 1. Suit ably hinged, as at 13, to the outer faces of the said supporting bars 1 and 2, are folding members and m to the vtree end-portions of which are hinged5 as at 16, other folding 'gitudinally extending members 17 and 18, the various members being arranged in such a manner, so that they may be folded upon one another, and against the main supporting bars 1 and 2, as indicated in Figure 8 of the drawin s, or they may be brought into an extendec and supporting relation, as indicated in dotted out line in said Figure 8, or as shown in Figures 5 and 7 of the drawings. If desired, when thus extended, removable stay rods 19 may be employed, and at their abutting end-portions the respective folding members 17 and 18 maybe separably connected by means of connector-plates 20 and bolts 21. If desired, the said folding members 17 and 18 may also be provided with suitably formed foot-pieces or supports, as 22. Foldably connected with the respective ends of the said main supporting bars 1 and 2, preferably by being journalled upon the end-portions of the respective-rods 3 and are the side-members 25 and 26 of frames 23 and 24, the said side-members 25 and 26 being pro vided at their free ends with angle-plates 27 and 28, or other suitable means, serving to maintain a supported relation of the said frames 23 and 24 to the main supporting frame, formed by the members 1, 2, 5 and 6, as will be clearly evident from an inspection of Figures 3, 5, 7 and 8 of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to F igures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings. in which is shown. more especially, one general arrangement of foldably connected elements comprising the flooring, the sides. and the front and rear walls of the building, the flooring consists of a main. central section 29 made up of any suitable number of longitudinally extending floor-boards, with which are foldably connected by means of hinges 30, or similar means which permits folding, other side-sections 31 and 82. which are also made up of any suitable number of lonfloor-boards. The floor-boards of the main central section 29 are suitably re-enforced by laterally extending floorbeams 33. and in a similar manner, the said side-sections 31 and 32 are correspondingly re-enforced by laterally extending floor-beams 34 and 35. The referenceeharacters 36 and 37 indicate the respective longitudinally extending side-walls of the building, said walls being made up of the usual clap-boards. or they may be of beaverboard. or concreted metal lath. or any other suitable material. as will be evident. These side-walls are also suitably re-enforced by an arrangement of bars or posts. as 38 and 39, which are respectively hingedly connected with the ends of the respective floorbeams 34 and by means of hinge-straps 40, substantially as shown in Figures 9 and 1.0 of" the drawings. or other suitably constructed means of pivotal connection. which will permit of a folding relation of the said side-walls 36 and 37 upon the floor-sections 31 and 32. If desired, the said sidewalls 86 and 37 may be provided with suitably placed windows 41. At the marginal ends of the said main central floonsection 29, are vertically disposed members 42 and 43, said members being provided with tlUOlf-OlfllllllgS in which are suitable hinged doors 44. Foldably connected with the vertical edges of the said members 42and 43. by means of hinges 45, or other suitable means of connection, are end-wall sections 46 and 47, connected with. the member and end-wall sections 48 and 49. connected with the member 43. Also foldably connected with the upper marginal edge-portions of the respective vertical end members 42 and 43. by means of hinges 50, or other similar means, are a pair of gablemembers 51 and 52, the said members being rcs ectively provided near their peaks with holes or perforations 53 and 54 for the purposes to be presently set forth. As shown, there are also connected with the upper marginal edges of the respective end-wall sections 46 and 47. and 48 and 49, by means of hinges or other similar means, triangularly shaped endmembers. as 56, 57, 58 and 59. If desired. the several end-wall sections 46. 47, 48 and 49 may also be provided with windows 60.

Suitable platform-sections 61 and 62 are also provided. which are adapted to be placed upon the extended frame-niembers. 5, 25 and 23, and 6,26 and 24, as will be evident from an inspection of Figure of the drawings. The various end-wall sections 42. 43. 46. 47, 48 and 49, and the various members 51. 52. 56, 57. 58 and 59. may be made up of the usual clap-boards, or they may be oi beaverboard, or concreted metal. lath. or any other suitable material. as will be umlerstood.

In connection with the various members of the building just described. there is employed with the set-up men'ibers, see Figure 3 of the drawings, a suitable number of removable rafters', each rafter consisting as will be seen from said Figure 3 and from Figure 11., of a pair ofn'iembers 63 and 64. suitably foldably connected by njieans of a hinge 65. or other similar means. and preferably notched at their free m1dportions. as at 66. for supporting the opened-out rafters upon the upper marginal edges of the longitudinally extending side-walls 36 and 37. as shown. The abutting edge-portions 67 of the rafter-members 63 and 64 are suitably cutaway so as to provide openings near the apexes of the opened-out members 6 and 64 for reception of a longitudinally ex tending ridge-rod 68. th respective ends of which extend into and through the holes 53 and 54 in the members oland 52. suit able locking collars 69 and nuts 70 being employed with said rod for maintaining the rafters in the raised and fixed relation to Ill) the various opened-out sections or members of the knock-down building, as will be evident. It will be understood, however, that in lieu of the said collars and nuts, any other readily applicable fastening or securing: means may be employed.

The roof of the building, when eel. up, is preferably a roll of canvas, as Tl, or other similar material, which is easily arranged over the set-up rafters, and then. usually held in place by means of guy-ropes T2, suitably attacliied to the roll Tl and to stakes '73, or the like. as will be evident from an inspection of Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. Compartments within the building may be producedby suitably placed curtains 74, suspended from rods 75. suitably and rcmovably attached to the ra'lter-members 63 and 64. Additional means for holding the roof-covering down upon the rafter may he provided in the form of books 76 and eyes 77, substantially as shown in F inure ll of the drawings.

ltlavinp in the foregoing: set forth one general arrangement and coml'iination of the various foldable elements conmrising my novel form of knock-down or collapsible building, the manner of bringing the folded elements into their opened-(mt and set-up relation so as to produce the completed building will be clearly understood from an inspection of the several figures of the drawings, and any further description. of the same therefm-e deemed unnecessary, it being evident that the invention consists, primarily, in the main supporting unit or foundation, the members of which are made of metal and which is first set up, as shown in Figure 8, and upon which is laced the folded elements or members of the build-.

ing-unit, indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings, as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, the various members of the building-unit thereupon being: unfolded and opened out, as indicated in Figures 5, at, 3 and 2 of the drawings.

\Vhen it is desired to take down the building, this is easily and quickly done, the various devices and parts being quickly brought into their repaeked relation. for transportation and for storing purposes.

Of course, I am aware that changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the various foldablc clel'l'lBlltS and their parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same. without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the foregoing specification. and as defined in the clauses of the claims which are appended thereto. Hence, I do not limit my present invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the several devices and. parts, as described in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts as in the accom 'ianyinp; drawings.

l: elaim1-- 1. A knock-down building comprising, a foldable formulation franii-ig a collapsible nuperstriicture comprising a series of floor, side wall and mail wall sections hingedly interconnected together, and superstructure being adapted for separable supportedconncction with said :loundation frame; a series of collapsible rafter elements having means to separately connect their free ends with the erected side wall sections of said superstructure; a longitudinal ridge rod detachably engage-able with the peak ends of said rafter elements; and a detachable roofing means adapted to be supported by said ra tcr elements and said ridge rod.

A. knock-down buildingcoml'irising a l'oldable i'mn'nlation frame; a collapsible superstructure comprising a series of floor, side wall and end wall sections hingedly intcrcounccted together, said superstructure being adapted for separable supported connection with said foundation frame, a series of collapsible rafter elements having notched free ends to detachably engage the upper edges of the erected side wall sections of said superstructure; a longitudinal ridge rod, said rafter elements having means to receive interconnecting engagement of said ridge rod therewith; and a detachable roofin; means adapted to be supported by said rafter elements and said ridge rod.

3. A. lmocledown building comprising, a main foundation frame having; hinged at its sides foldable sections to open outwardly into the plane thereof; a series of floor, side wall and end 'wall sections hingedly interconnected together so as to be movable at will into erected or collapsed relation, said floor sections having reenforcing floor beams to detachably interlock with said main foundation frame and its foldable sections; a plurality of rafter elements arranged in pairs the members of which are hinged tonether at their adjoining; peak ends, and the same having notched free end portions to interlock with the upper edges of the erected side wall sections; a longitudinal ridge rod detaclnzrlilv engageable with the peak ends illustrated 

